Water into Wine; a commentary on Christ’s first miracle

The following is the story of The Wedding at Cana; found in: John 2:1-1. My commentary is amongst the text in red.

On the third day (Remember the third day when Christ rose from the grave and was revealed in his glory? Well, here is an example of how Scripture uses somewhat the same format and references things that have happened in the past or in the future. In this case, Christ is revealed in his first miracle) there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”(Mary, of course is being the good Jewish mother and knows that without wine, the celebrations cannot really continue.) [And] Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? (Whoah! Did Jesus, just call his mother “woman”? Yes, I think that he did. Maybe next time, my mother tells me something I will, just say “Woman, how does your concern affect me?” and try to ward of a big smack that I deserved, by saying: “well if Jesus can do it, why can’t I?” Though, we have to remember that Jesus is now a grown man, who loves his mother very much, but is starting to recognize what his will is from God. So he basically tells her: “Mom, dad said not to do anything yet, because it’s not his will.”) My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” (Now, there’s a good Jewish mother for you. Sticking that motherly command right in there and saying: “Mister, if I say they are out of wine, you are going to do something about it. I’ll just let you deal with the servers and the ordeal” These five words are my favorite part of scripture, “Do whatever He tells you.” Such powerful words that our blessed mother gives us. She tells us exactly what we must do in order to enter Heaven, find God’s will for us in our life, and to be eternally happy. That is; to do whatever the Father wants us to, and to place ourselves in his hands. In a sense to humble ourselves to the will of one greater than us, so that we in turn might receive his peace.)Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim.Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”* So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

Imagine about how Christ’s first miracle was worked, because His mother told Him to. What type of humility would that take for Him? He had to submit Himself to the Fathers will, and humble himself to his simple human Mother’s will. He who was both God and Man (The Hypostatic Union) submitted Himself to a woman. What a sense of humility it must have taken for Him to do something like that. Now we, knowing the full power that Christ has given to his Mother, know that she can work wonderful things through His name. But, it is important for us to remember the “why” we ask her to. The fact that she commanded and he did it. This is why when we are in need of something we can always utter the name of Jesus and it will be done. But when we humble and lower ourselves and like Christ did, submit to his Mother and ask her to intercede for us we become like the sick child receiving medicine on a spoon from their mother. It is not only a humbling experience, but it also has a more direct route to Christ. Christ, obeys his Mother, just like good children do. So when we ask Mary to intercede for us, we are asking her, who is closest to Christ to beg for it for us from him.

Mary is such a great role model for each and everyone of us. There isn’t a day that goes by in which I don’t pray multiple Hail Mary’s or ask her to help me with something. When Christ gave her to us from the Cross. I try to take full advantage of that and ask for her help. Going through High School, I would say one Hail Mary between each class, others during class. And never once was I late, or didn’t have what I needed. She as always there; watching over and protecting me. Now as a seminarian I ask for her help each day, that I may do what needs to be done, that I might have the strength to carry on, that I might do whatever He tells me…